Exploring the Complexity of Climate Change with an Interactive and Collaborative Learning Tool: The "Climate Fresk"

The « Climate Fresk » is a french innovative educational tool designed to raise awareness about the challenges of climate change. Developed by the French organization CliMates in 2018, it engages students in an interactive and collaborative learning experience.

This activity lasts around 3 hours and takes the form of a board game where students organized into groups of 4 to 7, working together to understand the complex dynamics of climate change. The game incorporates a set of 44 cards representing various factors related to climate change (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions, sea level rise, deforestation, ocean acidification, aerosol). The course is organized as follows:

• Step 1: The students’ goal is to place cards on the board, creating connections between different aspects of climate change. Behind the cards lay explanations about the item to help them solving some complex issues (e. is ice melting and sea level rise connected?).
• Step 2: The students will be given some sheet and materials to stick the cards on it, draw the links and add additional decorations of their choice.
• Step 3: The different Fresks are displayed on the classroom walls, and the group can present them, explaining their layout choices or items that particularly moved them.
• Step 4: A discussion about the solutions is engaged

The primary objective of the Climate Fresk is to enhance participants' understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change while fostering discussions about possible solutions. By actively involving individuals in the learning process, this activity aims at empowering them with knowledge and inspire collective action.

Teachers often find the Climate Fresk to be a valuable resource for education in high school settings. Additionaly to scientific knowledge, this approach encourages critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving but also creativity since the students will take some time to do a nice and efficent layout. The visual and interactive nature of the Climate Fresk makes it an effective tool for conveying complex scientific concepts in a simple and accessible educational tool. Moreover, it promotes active learning and brings a different learning experience based on creation of an mural fresco.

Other similar works have been created since, such as the Plastic Fresk, the Soil Fresk, the Digital Fresk.